Agatha Christie Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Agatha Christie Memorial |
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The memorial in 2013
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| Artist | Ben Twiston-Davies |
| Year | 2012 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Agatha Christie |
| Dimensions | 2.4 m (7.9 ft) |
| Location | London |
| 51°30′42″N 0°07′39″W / 51.511805°N 0.127387°W | |
The Agatha Christie Memorial is a special statue in London, United Kingdom. It honors Agatha Christie, a very famous writer and playwright. You can find it in central London, near Covent Garden, where two streets meet: Cranbourn Street and Great Newport Street.
Contents
About the Memorial and Its History
Why This Location?
The memorial is placed right in the middle of London's theatre area. This spot was chosen to celebrate how much Agatha Christie helped the world of plays. Her play, The Mousetrap, is a mystery story that started in 1952. It's the longest-running show in the world! Also, she was the first woman writer to have three plays showing at the same time in London's famous West End theatres.
What Does It Look Like?
The memorial itself looks like an open book. Inside the book, you can see a picture of Agatha Christie. It stands about 2.4 meters (almost 8 feet) tall. The statue is made of bronze, a type of metal. Lights shine on it from below and from inside, making it glow. On the front, it says: "Agatha / Christie / 1890–1976". A talented artist named Ben Twiston-Davies designed this memorial.
How the Memorial Was Created
The idea for this memorial came from Agatha Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard. He worked with Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, who has been the producer of The Mousetrap since 1994. The local government, Westminster City Council, gave their permission and helped with advice on how to build it. Even though there was already a small statue (a bust) of Christie in Torquay, Devon, this was the first memorial for her in London.
The memorial was officially shown to the public on November 25, 2012. This date was special because it marked 60 years since The Mousetrap first opened.
Book Titles on the Memorial
On the memorial, you can see the names of some of Agatha Christie's most popular books and plays. These titles are written in English and in many other languages, showing how widely her work has been read around the world. Fans of Agatha Christie helped choose which titles would be included in a special competition. You can find more details about these inscriptions on the memorial's official website.
